MLAAS - Chapter 1

Chapter 1 - A (not so) Brief Introduction

My name is Sarah Marcel.  For the past few...well, I'm unsure of how long it's been actually.  Let's just say for quite a while now, I've been living an extremely unusual life.  Actually, I guess I haven't really been "living" very much of it.  You see, for a great deal of my life, I've been a stone statue.  I know it sounds unreal.  After all, people turning to stone is the stuff of myth and movies, right?  You couldn't be more wrong.  I figured after all these years, someone out there should know what I've been through, and I've finally decided to put it all on paper.  Now, I'm no writer by any means so don't go expecting Harry Potter or whatever you people read these days.

However, before we begin, I suppose I should give a bit of background of myself.  I know what you're thinking:  "This is boring, let's get to the unusual part!"  First of all, shut up.  Second of all, it is impossible to understand the choices I've made later in life without understanding where I came from.  First things first, I suppose I should describe myself.  I'm age 21...kind of.  I'm about 5 foot 7 and what I'd call rather average weight-wise. I've got green eyes and long brown hair that's tied into a ponytail starting just above the neck and ending a few inches above my waist.  There will be a test later.

Now that that's out of the way, on to the story of me.  It all starts with my parents meeting at a wild party in their mid twenties.  After a few too many drinks, one thing led to another and nine months later, I was born.  My mother and father really didn't have too much of an interest in each other, but not wanting their only child to live life split between two families, they bit the bullet and got married.  Now, I don't feel I have to tell you that my parents aren't quite what you'd call saints, but that isn't to say they don't have hearts.  I love them and they loved me.

Unfortunately, they weren't able to show much of that love to me during my childhood.  As with any marriage without love as its foundation, my parents' union was rather rocky.  My mother and father rarely spoke to each other and when they did, it always ended in shouting.  As such, they tried to spend as much time away from each other as possible which meant they both tried to avoid the house fearing the other one would be there.  As such, I spent a lot of time alone and learned many things for myself.  However, when I was together with one and not the other, we'd have a blast.  Still, for my birthday each year, I'd always wish that for once, we'd have a great time together.

As I grew older, I realized it was never meant to be.  The arguments got worse and worse, and yet they remained together believing I would not be able to handle a divorce.  Little did they know my birthday wishes had switched to just that:  I just wanted both of them to be happy even if that meant separation.  However, that wish never came true.  By the time I reached high school, they started dragging me into the arguments.  It really wore on my nerves and I broke down in my room rather often.  Still, though, just when I'd be ready to jump off the deep end, I'd find myself alone with one of them and it would be just like old times.

With college came the opportunity to get away from the fighting for long periods of time.  I got my own apartment not far from school.  However, the rent started getting too much for me to handle despite already holding down a job and attending school simultaneously.  I needed something more.  That something more came in the form of a flyer in an alley on my usual route from the apartment to the university.

"Wanted:  Models for Local Sculptor.  Must be willing to change into costume of sculptor's choice.  Must be willing to discuss private matters regarding the subject material of final piece.  Private matters include:  Family Situation (participants with poor situations are preferred), Friends (fewer is highly preferred), Depression, Regrets.  Must be Female.  Must be between 18-25.  $200 for two 4 hour sessions.  If interested, please call 1-380-479-2239."

I took a copy off the wall for myself just in case.  After all, I didn't consider my family situation to be very poor at the time and as for friends, I was starting to make a few in college.  However, that would all change soon enough.  I got a phone call from the police station just three days later.  My father had been arrested after coming home drunk and punched my mother during an argument.  They'd had their arguments over the years but this one was way worse than the rest.  I went down to the station to see him expecting to be alone, but in what may be the single dumbest decision in the history of decisions, they had allowed my mother to go visit him.  She was gloating over his imprisonment and he was ready to charge at her through the bars when I shouted at them both to stop.

"Stop! God damn it, I can't take it any more!"

They both stopped in their tracks and looked towards me, waiting for what I had to say next.  We all stared at each other in silence for what felt like an hour.  I tried to say more, but I couldn't get the words out.  I just burst into tears and ran out of the building.

When I got back to the room, I immediately called the number on the flyer.  I was met with a beautiful smooth voice of a clearly groggy woman on the other end.

"...You DO realize what time it is, right?" said the voice.  I looked at the clock.  12:35 AM.  Whoops.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I just got home.  I had no idea..." I replied.

"It's alright, I wasn't sleeping yet anyways.  Now, judging by your voice, you must be responding to my flyer, right?"

"Yes, I'd love to take up your offer."

"Good.  I've got an opening tomorrow evening at about 5.  Will that work for you?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Ok, I'm at 2328 West Maple Street. It's a 3 story tall red brick building in the middle of the block. I'll see you tomorrow. Now, get some sleep."

"Yes, ma'am."

I set the phone down and crawled into bed, reviewing the night's events over and over. Little did I know, in 24 hours I would be a stone statue.